Gov. Haley picks sides in Horry County’s GOP election primary

Gov. Nikki Haley on Friday endorsed Scott Pyle over incumbent Luke Rankin for the Republican state Senate primary, prompting a backlash of criticism from local officials who say she’s trying to stack the upper chamber with lawmakers who will side with her in future disputes.

During a news conference for Rankin following Haley’s endorsement of his opponent, Republican State Reps. Kevin Hardee, Alan Clemmons and Horry County Council Chairman Mark Lazarus said the governor had no business interfering with Horry County elections during a party primary, which will be held June 14.

Rankin said that while he agrees with the governor on many issues, he stood up to her by overriding her veto of a bill to extend the Myrtle Beach sales tax, used to promote the Grand Strand to tourists as well as provide a tax break to some property owners.

Rankin also voted to override Haley’s veto of a recent farm aid bill that was intended to provide $40 million in relief aid to farmers impacted by recent floods.

“I believe we can sum up this election in a very few words,” Lazarus said. “Gov. Haley is mad at Luke Rankin because she can’t always control him.”

Rankin says that the threats coming out of the governor’s camp is “we will run someone against you if you don’t do what we say.”

“This is extremely unusual,” Rankin said.

Rankin says Haley is misrepresenting his record on other issues, including his opposition to Common Core, and his vote against pay raises for lawmakers.

“She is trying to pull one over on Horry County,” Rankin said.

Haley has made several endorsements in the Republican primaries for state senators this week.

She endorsed GOP challenger Reese Boyd over incumbent state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch during an event Tuesday in Georgetown, endorsed newcomer Wes Climer over state Sen. Wes Hayes of Rock Hill, and is throwing her support behind Richard Skipper over state Sen. Hugh Leatherman of Florence in that contest.

Haley is campaigning against Rankin and other Republicans, calling them “career politicians” who have “lost their way.”

“Scott Pyle is a businessman, not a career politician, and we can count on him to cut taxes, rein in government spending and hold the career politicians accountable to the people,” Haley said in a statement.

Hardee says that Haley doesn’t know Horry County voters very well, and pointed to her opposition against presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who won 50 percent of the Horry County vote during the February primary.

“She attacked Donald Trump the same way she’s attacking Luke Rankin now,” said Hardee. “The election results show she was wrong then, and she’s wrong today — the people of Horry County make up their own minds.”

This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Gov. Haley picks sides in Horry County’s GOP election primary."